Transmission just quit

I have a 1995 Riv with 200K miles. Engine runs great. Trans was a replaced with a Jasper unit about 50k ago There were no signs of trouble until pulled in driveway after coming home.
Put in reverse and it started to move then just quit made a thumping noise. after that would not go into forward either. I let it sit awhile and retied it again. it did the same thing it started to back up then just stopped. I checked the fluid and it is bright red and full also smells fine. Please any help would be much appreciated. I really don't want to junk my riv but i don't have money for another rebuild. Engine is a 3800 super charged unit. I am hoping its something simple.
Thanks

It's really hard to even speculate what a thumping noise means. Does it repeat? It could be that a CV joint broke and the shaft is swinging around. That would mean a new CV shaft at not a horrible cost.

Some other possibilities... broken flywheel, broken input shaft... but without much more detail about the issue and some diagnostic, there isn't much to go on.

deekster_caddy wrote:

It's really hard to even speculate what a thumping noise means. Does it repeat? It could be that a CV joint broke and the shaft is swinging around. That would mean a new CV shaft at not a horrible cost.

Some other possibilities...  broken flywheel, broken input shaft...  but without much more detail about the issue and some diagnostic, there isn't much to go on.

I jacked up front of car. ran engine and put in gear. the wheel turn for a minute or so then slows and stops. if you rev up it will go a little more but wit no torque. you can stop the wheel spin with your hands.
after a shot time it will stop totally. that tells me that the trans in responding to the shifter and knows what gear to go into.I dropped the pan to see what i could see. It is very clean inside no metal. Like i said in post it was already rebuilt by jasper.Fluid was a little dirty but still red and smelled good. Is it possible to have a clogged or defective filter? When the wheels spun at first start both wheels spun fine. So all axles are fine.Inside trans looks clean as a whistle. Any more ideas? Please help

The Forward Band may have broken. That's what happened with mine when it went. That means a rebuild if it's the case.

Make sure your trans position switch is plugged in and that it is mounted tightly.

I agree with Abaddon.  Fwd band when cold might catch a little but not enough for traction.  When it heats from trying to turn, so to speak,  it changes shape and wont turn any more. "Fluid a little dirty" is an issue; there's no path for road dust into the transmission so that "dirt" is probably one or more toasted frictions. They'll crumble.

If you put the Jasper in, or you arranged to transfer the warranty to yourself, check with them. The Jasper warranty is generally reasonable. See the link below for details.

http://www.jasperengines.com/transmissions.php

Perhaps Abaddon could comment on why this might have happened and what you can do to avoid in the future.

Albertj

albertj wrote:

Perhaps Abaddon could comment on why this might have happened and what you can do to avoid in the future.

Not really anything you can do about it if it is the Forward Band. Where mine broke, it just wore out. There's really nothing you can do to prevent it. Right where it broke is where all the pressure is applied to squeeze that band around the assembly. Mine went when I rolled up to a light on the way to work. Light turned green, and my car wouldn't move lol. It sucked. I was only 1/2 mile away and was able to get it to the shop at about 4500rpms. Sorry the pic is so big. You can see the split in it.

Thanks guys for the help.
I changed the fluid and filter and the vacuum modulator.
only because that's all i could do.
Well not sure why but it's working great.

Glad I was apparently wrong.

Vac modulator manages transmission engagement.

How'd we miss that one, Abaddon?

Albertj

albertj wrote:

How'd we miss that one, Abaddon?

I apparently missed the part about it being a '95, and that it has a Vacuum Modulator. What's your excuse?

Glad we're wrong....cool you got it sorted out.

Abaddon wrote:

albertj wrote:

How'd we miss that one, Abaddon?

I apparently missed the part about it being a '95, and that it has a Vacuum Modulator. What's your excuse?

Glad we're wrong....cool you got it sorted out.

As usual, I have no excuse. I replaced a vacuum modulator on a Borg-Warner automatic in a Rambler when I was in high school, for about the same reason... yeah basically it's time to say "no excuse, sir."

Albertj

My transmission was rebuilt less than 10,000 miles ago. I went to start it up the other day and all of the gears are acting like neutral. I had to rev it up to 5k just to move it a few feet to get it out of the way in my driveway. It then leaked tranny fluid and I didn't notice any leaking fluid before this incident. I called the guys who rebuilt it and they said that it probably isn't working because of the lack of fluid and that it would then not be covered under warranty. I'm pretty sure the problem with the tranny caused the leak though as I have never noticed any fluid on the ground where I park. Is there an over flow on these transmission that release fluid if it is not operating correctly?

There really isn't anywhere for fluid to leak out of a tranny besides the cooler lines and a pan. You should see where the leak is. The only place I'm aware of where fluid can get out is the tiny vent on top of the bellhousing and the dipstick tube.

It's possible the cooler inside the radiator is leaking, letting transmission fluid out into your antifreeze. What, exactly, is leaking?

I agree with the shop, there's no way they could be responsible for a fluid leak.

If you are lucky, there was no permanent damage done, it's just too low on fluid to operate.

When is the last time you checked the transmission fluid level?

Take the radiator cap off and look at the inside of the cap and radiator. Any evidence of stuff besides antifreeze in there?

Okay there is some fluid coming out of the tiny vent on top of the transmission. The coolant looks fine. Also the leak is dripping onto the ground around the back of the engine and transmission. Does this mean it is most likely the pan? Thanks Deekster!

From the back... I'd guess it's the pan. From the vent? There shouldn't be anything coming out of there. Maybe it foamed up or something from being low. I was just saying that's the only 'exit' if everything else is sealed up tight.

It's possible the dipstick tube is loose, that's also in the back.

What's the level like?

So the level showed low and then I filled it with probably only about 2 cups of fluid and it now is full. When put through the gears it does release some fluid from the top vent.

That's not right. There should never be anything coming from the vent. Are you checking the fluid with the engine running?

Yes I am checking the fluid with the engine running and the car parked on a level surface. Also I was checking it out with a mechanic I know from the local Chevy dealer and he is under the impression that there is something wrong inside of the transmission.

RidzRiv wrote:

Yes I am checking the fluid with the engine running and the car parked on a level surface. Also I was checking it out with a mechanic I know from the local Chevy dealer and he is under the impression that there is something wrong inside of the transmission.

Hey Greg, I have a trans from a 96 rivi i bought for the engine. It only has 67000 miles. The car got rear ended while parked and was beyond repair. I drove the car home and shifted smoothly. Its the trans that has a vacuum modulator. Let me know if your interested.

It sounds to me like the channel plate gasket is gone, or not torqued correctly. There are 2 bolts for the channel plate just below that vent. They're supposed to be torqued to 14nM as opposed to the rest of the plate (12nM). The reason for this is because the outlet channel for the trans pump is right there, and it needs the extra "hold". Fluid literally squirts out from between the plates if the gasket fails. That's the only thing I can think of....

OR, the trans is overheating for some reason, but I highly doubt this is the case.

Thanks Scott. I also doubt that the transmission is overheating, as the fluid looks nice a pink. No sign of burnt fluid.

Okay so with the front end jacked up and the emergency brake on, should there be a tendency for the drivers side front wheel to spin as if the car was in drive while it is in neutral? In neutral even if i manually spin the wheel with my hands in reverse the wheel will stop and start to spin forward.

Um. It spins on its own without the car running? I don't think I'm understanding what you're saying here.

If the car is running and in neutral, no tires should spin at all on their own.

When the car is running and i put the transmission into neutral and the front tires are lifted off of the ground the drivers side wheel spins on its own but very slightly.